By Andy Tarnoff Publisher Published Mar 31, 2014 at 12:41 PM

Opening Day has always been a special day for me. It was 16 years ago, on April 7, 1998 that I celebrated my first day of self employment (and the birth of OnMilwaukee.com) at County Stadium. I haven’t missed many since then.

And even though I’ve already seen the Brewers play in Phoenix this spring, Opening Day marks the end of a long, grueling winter. Like my friend, Jim Powell, who I had a chance to chat with in the media dining, says, baseball will hold your hand for six months.

I’m ready.

Of course, it’s different in the press box than when I was tailgating back in the day. No cheering, no beer, no Brewers gear. But the excitement can be felt up here, too. I’m seeing lots of people I haven’t seen since September, and listening to Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio speak downstairs – it’s hard not to feel optimistic about this season.

Because for another half-hour, the Brewers are undefeated. Like Melvin said, the team isn’t just turning a page from last season, it’s tearing up the book.

Right now, I feel good about this team. Hope has sprung eternal, and I’m among tens of thousands of fans who are as excited as I am. This is one of the best days of the year.

Go Brewers!

Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.

Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.

Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.